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CONTEST RULES How to enter |
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| Form of entries: Each separate entry in each category must be placed in a letter-sized folder. Entries may be attached to the folder with staples. A photocopy of the Alabama APME Contest entry form must be stapled, glued or taped to the outside front cover of the folder. All blanks on the entry form must be completed, including the space for a 1-2 sentence description of the entry. No paper clips may be visible from the outside of the folder. In addition, each newspaper must submit a separate envelope or folder containing an extra copy of ALL entry forms from that newspaper. Make sure to circle the classification for your newspaper on each entry form as well as the category. Newswriting and sportswriting category entries may include clippings or photocopies of clippings. More than one story, but not more than seven, may be included as a single entry if they are all part of a clearly labeled series. Up to five representative clippings of a long running story may be offered as a single entry. A brief description of the background of an entry may be included in the folder or tearsheets. Photography category entries must be prints not exceeding 8 inches by 10 inches, or tearsheets. A brief caption to explain the nature of the story illustrated may be included. Makeup category entries must be in the form of full-page tearsheets or photocopies of full pages, except that the headline entries may be clippings or photocopies of clippings. A brief description may be attached to the folder to outline any pertinent information which is not apparent in the tearsheet or clippings. Community Service entries may be clippings or photocopies of clippings of stories or a series of stories and may include editorials, photographs, graphics or illustrations if pertinent. The entries must be accompanied by a nomination letter from an appropriate editor, summarizing the aims of the story or project and a description of what results or reforms, if any, were achieved. Freedom of Information entries may be clippings or photocopies of clippings of stories, editorials, photographs, graphics and/or illustrations as well as a list of legal action taken, if any, and results obtained by the newspaper to address a particular freedom of information or access problem. The material must have been published and/or the legal action taken during the contest year. The entries also must be accompanied by a nomination letter from an appropriate editor, outlining the activities and efforts undertaken by the newspaper during the contest period. Investigative Reporting entries may be clippings or photocopies of clippings of a story or series that demonstrates the newspaper's ability to get hard-to-find information, on a subject of importance to the public, and put it in compelling story form. The material must have been published during the contest year. The entries also must be accompanied by a nomination letter from an appropriate editor, outlining how the information was difficult to obtain, what the newspaper did to get it, and any impact it had or change it brought about. Entries in this category may also be entered in another Newswriting category. Each newspaper may submit as many as two entries for each category of competition in newswriting, sportswriting, photography and makeup. In the photography portfolio competition, the two entries may not be the work of the same photographer. Only one entry per newspaper may be submitted for Community Service or Freedom of Information competition. Judging: Judges will be selected from AP member newspapers in another state and will not include individual judges whose employment by a group-owned newspaper would present the appearance of a potential conflict of interest. Judges may select first place, second place and third place winners in each category of the newswriting, sportswriting, photography and makeup competition (except for the photography portfolio category) in each circulation class. In the photography portfolio competition, judges will select one winner from each circulation class. Certificates will be presented to first-place, second-place and third-place winners at the Alabama APME annual meeting on the Gulf Coast. Judges may, at their discretion, decline to designate any winners in categories where they believe there are not sufficient entries (in quantity and/or quality). Or, as an alternative, judges may award only first place or just first place and second place in a given category in any circulation class if they deem there are not sufficient entries (in quality or quantity). The rules do not allow judges to skip first or second place designations and award lower place designations. For instance, it is not possible to designate a first-place and a third place winner in deadline reporting for circulation class II newspapers if no second-place winner is designated. It is possible to designate a first-place winner and not designate second-place and third-place winners in a given category and circulation size. Sweepstakes Winner: The judges will designate a newswriting and sportswriting sweepstakes winner in each circulation class, selected from the first-place winners in each category of the respective circulation classes. The sweepstakes winner in each circulation class will be awarded a plaque. In the photography competition, a portfolio winner in each circulation class, selected from the portfolio entries submitted, will be designated. Each of those sweepstakes winners will be awarded a plaque. A Community Service Award will be awarded in each circulation class. Each of the awards will include a plaque. An
Investigative Reporting Award will be awarded in each circulation class.
Each of the awards will include a plaque. Deadline: All entries must be postmarked by the fourth Monday in January and should be sent to the AP bureau in Atlanta. Alabama
APME Contest If the Alabama APME board determines it is appropriate, the deadline may be changed by furnishing sufficient notice to member newspapers.
Page 1 — Rules | Page 2 — Categories |
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